Boiler-soox cleanee



.Fune 29 1926.

F. W. LINAKER EH AL- BOILER SOOT CLEANER Filed April 12, 1921 ganpemt w/irrb v WHO/130, @Fui/amn QMM W Patented June 29, 1926.

mreo sures PATENT OFFICE.

' FREDERICK LINAKER AND THEODORE M. BRUBACK, F DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOILER-S001 ommnnn.

j l pplication filed April 12, '1921. Serial m. 460,861.

This invention relatesjto means for cleanin'g soot from water tubes or flues of boilers by' direc ti'ng against the surfaces to be cleanedafjet or jets of steam or other suitablefluid, In such apparatus it is common to provide a tube entering through the boiler setting'into'the boiler furnace, and having perforations or jet nozzles for directing jets of steam laterallyof such tube, such jets entering either within the boiler fiu'e's', or more Commonly against the exterior of boiler-tubes. Such steam jets tubes or pipes are commonly called soot cleaner elements or soot blowers. Such cleaner elements are sometimes fixed in position within the boiler furnace, and in other cases are removable; in some cases the jets occupy an invariable direction, and in others the cleaner element is rotatable to cause the jets to sweep through a suitable angle and thereby clean a considerable angular range. of surface among the boiler tubes.

The present invention relates to sootcleaners which are rotatable or oscillatable, so 'as to vary the angular direction of the cleaning jets. Such elements, when located down within reach, have a hand wheel or other handle onthe outer portion, which may be gras ed by an attendant for turning the cleaner e ement; or when located. so high as to be out of. reach, they usually carry av sheave wheel over which passes a chain extending down to Where it may be reached by the attendant for turning the element. In

' either case the efliciency of the cleaning of the soot from the tubes depends upon the skill or judgment of the operator. If he turns the element too rapidly, the jets sweep across or past the tubes so fast that they have not time to effectively dislodge the soot; to secure the best results the element should be turned very slowly, or else be given an intermittent movement permit-ting it to rest in a given angular position long enough for the jets to'do the1r work, and

then turned through a small angle to another position and there rest, and so on, untilthe jets have swung through the prescribed arc, whereupon the same movements should be performed in the contrary direction.

The present invention provides a mechanism whereby's'uch intermittent operation of the cleaner element is assured under such conditions as to aiiord, under normal opera-,

tion, a restor dwell of the element in each,

position to. which it is advanced, for a. sufiicient time to afford the 'ets an opportunity for effectively cleaning t e boiler tubes.

To this end the invention provides an operating mechanism in the nature of a reversible ratchet and pawl device, the operating member or element of which re uires to be reciprocated by the attendant, an during themovements in one direction the cleaner element is rotated step by step,' while during the idle or return movements mthe OPPOSIEGdlIGCtlOII the element remains stationary, giving normally the required time for the jets to accomplish the cleaning.

The constructionand operation will be apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying ing, wherein Figure 1 is a front view, partly invertical section, on the line 11 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in vertical mid" section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan'showing a stop lug;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 44 in Fig. 2';

Fig. 5 is a'fragment of Fig. 1 showing the parts in another position;

Fig. 6 is asection of the ratchet wheel showing a removable stop tooth or plug;

Figs..7 and 8 are a side view and front view of such stopv tooth or plug, detached.

Referring first to Fig. 2, A showsa fragment of the'boiler wall or setting, usually of masonry, in which is set a sleeve or bushrawing B, and within. this are a stop pipe or spacer sleeve C and a pipe D'which for the purposes of the present description, may be treated as the cleaner element (although in practice the outer pipe D is a nipple coupled within the wall'A to the cleaner element proper). The cleaner element is essentially a steam pipe extending a suitable distance into the boiler furnace and commonly projecting among the boiler tubes and having a rowor rows of perforations or jet nozzles for directing a series of jets of steam (or other fluid) against the soot-covered surfaces of the boiler tubes. The cleaner element is mounted to turn or rotate, usually: within angular limits. The details of its construction, being well understood, are not shown. Where the bushing Bemerges on the outer side of the Wall A, a cap E is commonly apjects outside the wall and communicates with a nipple D which enters through a stufling box or other means into the connection head F, which receives steam through an inlet pipe G and directs it into the nipple D, the latter being rotated in a stutfing box for making a steam-tight joint with thehead F. These parts, so far as described,

arms d d, which as shown, are formed in-' tegrally as arms upon a double action pawl I. This pawl is pivoted on a in e to a yoke gr rock lever J which is pivoted conveniently upon the hubs a a. The rock lever J is best constructed of two yoke plates j and j connectedat their ends by pins or bolts f f, which afford a convenient medium for connecting chains 9 g which hang down suitably far to be conveniently reached by the operator. The plates 7" turn respectively on the hubs a a, being" located on opposite sides of the wheel H,

and the pawl pin 6 is connected between them, the pawl I being thus confined between the plates withits arms d. d in position to engage the teeth on the wheel H. On the rear of the pawl projects'an arm h to which is connected a contractile spring a the opposite end of which is connected to a lug k on the back of the rear plate j. The arrangement is such that whichever pawl arm d is in engagement with the teeth 0, the spring holds the pawl in that position, while yielding to its operating movements; but upon throwing over the pawl to bring the opp site tooth into engagement, the lug h in passing through a line m or a connecting k and e, carries the spring to the opposite side of that line, so that its action upon the pawl is reversed. These opposite positions of the pawl are shown respectively in Figs. 1 and 5. The' pull of the spring is on line y, Fig. 1, or y, Fig. 5.

The pawl-carrying lever J is permitted a.

limited movement just suflicient to enable the pawl in either operative position to push the wheel H the distance from one tooth a to the next. This limitation is accomplished by forming the front plate with stop projections l l, shown in Fig. 4, and by providing the bottom portion of the head F with a projection m contracted at n (Fig. 3) to form a stop, which is shown in section in Fig. 4. Thus the lever J is limited to 9.

movement ual to the clearance between the free toot l and the stop n (see Fig.

4), which in the construction shown corresponds to an an lar movement theoretically of 15 degrees, t e wheel H in this example being shown as provided with 24 teeth practice, however, the movement is 20 grees,'includ1ng 5 degrees clearance).

The operation as thus far described is thatof a ratchet, the operator pullin alternatel on the chains g and there y rocking the lever J back and forth; on one movement the pawl pushes the wheel H forward-the distance of one tooth, and on the return movement the pawl clicks idly over the next tooth, and during this time the element remains stationary, so that its jets are given a period of rest at the inclination determined by the last feeding movement imparted to the element. The operator is thus constrained to permit the element to remain thus stationary for an appreciable time after each forward movement; and in thenatural and normal operation this period of" rest is sufiicient to insure (under otherwise proper conditlons', as with a normal steam pressure) an eflicient cleaning of the soot from the tubes of the boiler.

It is desirable, and in some locations ofcleaner elements it is necessary, to provide a limit to the angular sweep of the jets, and for such purpose it is desirable to automatically reverse the direction of intermittent feed by the pawl and ratchet device. The means for accomplishing this reversal will now be described.

The pawl I is formed with a fragmentary or mutilated pinion I, shown in the drawing as having three pinion teeth, these being formed integrally with the pawl arms d d and the remainder of the pawl structure. These teeth mesh with similar teeth on a fragmentary gearor pinion K, which constitutes a reversing dog, being pivoted on a pin p fastened to the plate 7'. The wheel H carries one or more'stops L suitably located, so that atthe end of the desired rotation of the element in one direction, the ,last movement of the wheel, relative to the lever brings the stop adjacent the reversing dog K to the position shown in Fig. 1; whereupon, on the next or return movement of the lever J, the pivotal pin p of this dog being carried by plate j, is

swung in the contrary direction, so that a lug g projecting rearw'ardly from the dog K strikes the stop L (which is now stationary) and thereby rocks the dog K, and'through its geared engagement with the pinion teeth I throws over the pawl I to itsgcontrary position, as shown in Fig. 5. This movement, as already stated, carries the line of pull of the spring 2' to the opposite side of the pivot e of the pawl and thereby gives the pawl an operative spring movement in wheel H the contrary direction. The next angular movement of the level J causes the pawl arm at to click idly over the next tooth a and engage it, 'so that upon the contrary movement of the lever J the wheel H is propelled in the opposite direction.

The reversing movements thus occasioned are dependent upon the location of the-stop L with reference to the wheel H and elementl). For every differently located element it is desirable to be able to limit its movement so as to cause its jets to sweep through a given angle with respect to the boiler tubes; and to render this sweepad justable, according to the individual requirements of the respective cleaner elements, it is important to make the reversing stops L adjustable relatively to the ratchet wheel H. To accomplish this the stops L are constructedas pins or plugs which may be set in various angular positions with respect to the wheel H. If it is desired that the cleaner elements shall sweep through nearly an entire revolution, only one stop L ma be used; otherwise two such .stops should be provided, which are set at the required an ular distance apart on the l lrious arrangements providing for such angular adjustment of the stop projections or plugs L may be provided.

The arrangement shown aflordsas many positions for either stop as half the number of teeth on the wheel; that is to say, the wheel is provided, opposite each successive pair of teeth 0, with holes r through any one of which the reversing stop or plug L may be inserted. To provide a secure connection, the holes or sockets 'r are tapered, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 6, and the base of each stop plug L is equally tapered, so that the stop plug may be inserted from the back through any hole 1', and forced firmly into place. To provide against the turning of the plug, each socket r and the tapered base 8 of the plug, are flattened. on one side, as shown at s in Figs. 7 and- 8. When the plug has been thus 1nserted, it requires to be fastened or keyed in place, so that it may not work loose. To t accomplish this, provlsion is made-for inserting a pin or cotter t Figi6). To pro vide sultable seats for this pin in relation to the several holes or sockets r, the-wheel H is provided with radial grooves 'u, on its front face, of a de th similar to the diameter of the pin; an while itwould be sulficient to form through each plug L a diametrical bore through which the pint could be driven, it is preferable to form the wed eshaped' base 8 of the plug with a flaring notch 41 on its back, as shown in Fig. 7, the

depth of this notch 'being'just-sufiicient to receive the pin tin the position. shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7; so that when the pin s driven into place, it spans coincidlng grooves alternatelyin the wheel and plug. It must be driven so far in that its end will not project into the s ace between teeth; and to lock' the pin in p ace the inner end of the radial groove u is rounded, so as to bend the end of the pin forward as it is driven (see Fig. 6).

It will be understood that by this means one or two "stop plugs L may be applied in any one of a variety of positions with respect to the wheelH, which, in the PI'GCISG example shown, are 30 de 'rees "apart. Other spacing and other speci 0 means for locating and attaching the stop P1118 or plugs may readily be substituted if for any given installation a different arrangement or construction is found preferable.

It will'be understood'that the invention here described ma through an are only suflicient to deliver jets of cleaning fluid to all the tubular surfaces reached by such cleaner, first in one direction and then in thevreve'rse direction, the

movement in each direction being composed of intermittent or step by step movements, whereby the cleaner is brou ht to restat a series of stopping points during each swinging movement to deliver 'ets of cleaning fluid from 'a temporarily xed position to parts'of the boiler to be cleaned, said mechanism including an actuating device, separate sets of controlling means for said actuating device each requiring an independent movement by the operator to produce each step, said device operating in a coninous cycle of movements, irrespective of the" direction of the'turning movement ofsaid cleaner element, with means to automatically reverse said'turning movements at their limits durmg such continuous operation. 7

2. In a soot cleaner, a cleaning element adapted to deliver jets of a cleaning fluid such as steam to certain portions of the tubular surfaces of a boiler, and mechanism for turning such element to swing its jets through an are only sufficient to deliver jets 'of cleaning fluid "to all the tubular surfaces reached by such cleaner, first in one direction and thenin the reverse direction, the movement in'each direction being composed of intermittent-or step by step movements,

, ing movement to deliver tinuous cycle of movements, irrespective of ment at each of the the direction of the turning movement of said cleaner element, with means to automatically reverse said turning movements at their limits duringsuch continuous operation, and such actuating device being adapted to produce a dwell of the cleaning eleositions of rest of the latter during its step y step movement.

3. In a soot cleaner, a cleaning element adapted to deliver jets of a cleaning fluid such as steam to certain portions of the tubular surfaces of a boiler, and mechanism for turning such element to swing its jets through a required arc, first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, the movement in each direction being composed of intermittent or step by step movements,

a series of stopping points during each swinging movement to deliver jets of cleaning fluid from a temporarily xed position to parts of the boiler to be cleaned, said mechanism including an actuating deviceoperating jn a continuous cycle of movements, irrespective of the direction of the turning movement of said cleaner element,

with means to automatically reverse said turning movements at their limits during such continuous" operation, s'aid. ctuating device comprising a two-armed le er with a flexible operative connection for each arm.

4. In a soot cleaner, a cleaning element adapted to deliver jets of a cleaning fluid such as steam to certain portions of the tu-.

bular surfacesof a boiler, and mechanism for turning such element to swing its jets through a required are, first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, the move ment in each direction being composed of intermittent or step by step movements,

whereby the cleaner is brought. to rest at a series of stopping points during each swinging movement todeliver jets of clean.-

ing'fluid from a temporarily fixed position to parts of the boiler to be cleaned, such mechanism including a ratchet-wheel and reversible 'pawls with stops for throwing one pawl into and the other out of operation, and a lever having a continuouscycle of movements and connected with said pawls to move the ratchet wheel in either direction during such continuous operation, said lever having two arms with an operating mechanism at the end of each arm, the movegage said dogto reverse the whereby the cleaner is brought to rest at a ratchet wheel connected thereto, a two-.

armed lever hun coaxially therewith, a pawl carried by saitf lever, stops to limit the movements of the lever, and pull connections hung from the opposite arms of the lever,

whereby the lever is rocked by pulling down its opposite arms alternatel 6. The combination of c aim 5, the lever formed of two plates located on opposite sides of the ratchet wheel and fined together. I 7. The combination of claim 5, the stops comprising stop projections on the rocking lever and a stationary part having a stop pro ection co-operating therewith to limit the movement of the rocking lever.

8. An intermittent turning means for a rotatable soot cleaner element comprising a ratchet wheel fixed to the element, a rocking lever having a limited an lar movement, a reversible pawl carried y said lever, a rev'ersing dog engagingsaid pawl, and a reversing stop on said wheel adapted to enpawl. 9. The combination of claim 8, the pawl and'dog geared together.

10. The combination of claim 8, the dog pivoted to the lever.

11. The combination of claim 8, the

ratchet wheel carrying two stops for reversing the pawl in different directions.

12. The combination of claim 8, the ratchet wheel carryin two stops for reversing the pawl in di erent directions said stops being relatively adjustable'to di erent angular positions.

13. The combination of claim 8, in which the ratchet wheel has a plurality of sockets and a stop, and in which the stop engages in any of the sockets, the two having reciprocally-engaging non-circular portions 'for preventing turning of the stop.

' 14. The combination of claim 8, in which the ratchet wheel has a lurality of sockets and a stop, and in whic the stop engages the sockets and the two having reciprocallyengaging non-circular portions for preventing turning of the sto and in which there are means for fastening the stop in 'any socket.

15. The combination of claim 8, in which the ratchet wheel has a plurality of sockets and a stop, and in which the stop engages in any of the sockets, the wheel having. adjacent to each socket a groove, and apin adapted tohenter the respective groove to engage the stopto hold the latter in place. In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names. I

FREDERICK W. LINAKER. THEODORE M. BRUBACK. 

